# Shared Hosting vs Managed Hosting: Why Cheap Hosting Costs You More Source: https://www.lucidmedia.co.nz/compare/shared-hosting-vs-managed-hosting/ Shared hosting is $10/month. Managed is $30+. But slow sites lose customers. Here's the real cost of cheap hosting. ## Shared Hosting vs Managed Hosting Budget hosting where your website shares server resources with hundreds of other sites. Low cost, lower performance. Premium hosting with dedicated resources, automatic backups, security monitoring, and expert support included. Here's everything you need to know to make the right choice for your business. ### At a glance Shared Hosting Best for: Personal blogs, hobby sites, and very low-traffic websites where speed is not critical Managed Hosting Best for: Business websites that need reliability, fast load times, and professional support for peace of mind ## Feature-by-Feature Comparison Here's how Shared Hosting and Managed Hosting stack up across key criteria. | Feature | Shared Hosting | Managed Hosting | | --- | --- | --- | | Cost | 5/5 The cheapest way to host. Often includes a free domain for the first year. | 3/5 Costs more each month, but includes updates, backups and security you would otherwise pay for separately. Our SiteCare plans start from $99 a month. | | Performance | 2/5 Shared resources mean slow load times, especially during peak traffic. Other sites affect yours. | 5/5 Dedicated resources, SSD storage, server-level caching. Consistently fast load times. | | Security | 2/5 Basic security. If another site on the server is compromised, yours may be affected. | 5/5 Firewalls, malware scanning, DDoS protection, and automatic security patching included. | | Support | 2/5 Generic support with long wait times. Staff may not know WordPress specifically. | 5/5 Expert WordPress support. Fast response times. Staff who understand your platform. | | Backups | 2/5 Basic or no backups included. Often weekly at best. Restores can be slow and unreliable. | 5/5 Daily automatic backups with one-click restore. Some providers offer real-time backups. | | Uptime | 3/5 99% uptime typical. Occasional outages. Downtime during peak traffic is common. | 5/5 99.9%+ uptime SLAs. Redundant infrastructure. Your site stays online. | | Scalability | 2/5 Traffic spikes can crash your site. Upgrading often means migrating to a new server. | 5/5 Handles traffic spikes automatically. Easy to scale resources up as you grow. | | Updates | 1/5 You manage all updates yourself. WordPress core, plugins, themes, and PHP version. | 5/5 Automatic updates managed for you. WordPress core, PHP, and often plugin updates handled. | ## The Good & The Bad No platform is perfect. Here's the honest truth about what each option does well - and where it falls short. ### Shared Hosting Pros Very low monthly cost Good enough for personal blogs and hobby sites Easy to sign up and get started Often includes email hosting and domain registration Fine for sites with minimal traffic Cons Slow performance due to shared server resources Poor security with higher risk of compromise Limited or no backups included Downtime during traffic spikes Generic support that lacks WordPress expertise ### Managed Hosting Pros Consistently fast load times that improve SEO and user experience Enterprise-grade security with proactive monitoring Daily automatic backups with easy restore Expert WordPress support from people who know the platform Automatic updates and maintenance handled for you Handles traffic spikes without crashing Cons Higher monthly cost ($30-100+ NZD) Can be overkill for very simple, low-traffic sites Some providers lock you into their platform May include features you do not use ## How Slow Hosting Costs You Customers Slow hosting costs you visitors. The BBC found it lost an extra 10% of users for every additional second its site took to load, and Google's guidance is for the main content of a page to load within 2.5 seconds. On shared hosting, other sites compete for the same server resources, which makes that harder to hit, especially at busy times. Managed hosting is tuned for speed and keeps resources for your site. Key Takeaway Understanding the cost differences helps you budget properly and avoid unexpected expenses down the line. ## Security and the Cost of a Hack Recovering from a hacked website costs far more than preventing it: cleanup time, lost enquiries while the site is down, and damage to your reputation. Shared hosting environments are more vulnerable because hundreds of sites share the same server. If one site is compromised, others on the server can be affected. Managed hosting includes firewalls, malware scanning, and proactive security monitoring that dramatically reduces your risk. Prevention is always cheaper than recovery. ## The Real Cost Comparison Shared hosting saves you $20-50/mo compared to managed hosting. But factor in the cost of your time managing updates, running backups, fixing security issues, and troubleshooting performance problems, and the savings evaporate quickly. If your hourly rate is $50 and you spend 2 hours per month on server maintenance, you are already spending $100/mo in time. Managed hosting eliminates that burden entirely and delivers better results for your business. Remember The right choice depends on your specific business needs, technical skills, and long-term goals. ## Which Should You Choose? The right choice depends on your specific needs, budget, and technical comfort level. Choose This If ### Shared Hosting You have a personal blog, hobby site, or test project where performance, security, and uptime are not critical to your income. Choose This If ### Managed Hosting Your website represents your business, generates leads or revenue, and downtime or slow performance would cost you customers and credibility. The Verdict ## Managed Hosting Wins Managed hosting wins for business sites. Better performance, security, and support. Shared hosting only makes sense for hobby sites. Still not sure which is right for you? We'll assess your needs and recommend the best platform - no sales pitch, just honest advice based on your goals and budget. ## Related Services Explore our services that can help you get started. ### [SiteCare and Hosting](https://www.lucidmedia.co.nz/services/sitecare-and-hosting/) Reliable hosting with ongoing support and maintenance. Learn more ### [Web Development](https://www.lucidmedia.co.nz/services/web-development/) Modern, high-performance web development for NZ businesses. Learn more ## Need Help Choosing? Get Expert Advice. Book a free consultation. We'll review your requirements and recommend the best solution for your business - whether that's WordPress, Webflow, or something else entirely. Free consultation & quote Response within 24 hours No obligation to proceed [info@lucidmedia.co.nz](mailto:info@lucidmedia.co.nz) [+64 27 582 4369](tel:+64275824369)